Tribune-Review staff writers offer predictions for 2021 NFL season

Every year, the NFL’s communications department is eager to point out how many nonplayoff teams from the previous season either qualify for the postseason or win their divisions the next season. The league’s go-to parity stat is that during 17 of the past 18 seasons at least two division winners were teams that did not make the playoffs the prior year.

We shall see if that comes to fruition this season.

Here’s a look at how our Steelers beat reporters see the 2021 NFL season playing out:

AFC

East

Chris Adamski: Bills

Tim Benz: Bills

Joe Rutter: Bills

North

Adamski: Browns

Benz: Browns

Rutter: Browns

South

Adamski: Titans

Benz: Titans

Rutter: Titans

West

Adamski: Chiefs

Benz: Chiefs

Rutter: Chiefs

Wild cards

Adamski: Steelers, Chargers, Raiders

Benz: Patriots, Steelers, Chargers

Rutter: Steelers, Chargers, Colts

AFC championship

Adamski: Bills over Chiefs

Benz: Bills over Titans

Rutter: Bills over Browns

NFC

East

Adamski: Cowboys

Benz: Cowboys

Rutter: Washington

North

Adamski: Packers

Benz: Packers

Rutter: Packers

South

Adamski: Buccaneers

Benz: Buccaneers

Rutter: Buccaneers

West

Adamski: Rams

Benz: Rams

Rutter: Rams

Wild cards

Adamski: Washington, Cardinals, 49ers

Benz: Seahawks, Cardinals, Vikings

Rutter: Panthers, 49ers, Seahawks

NFC championship

Adamski: Packers over Rams

Benz: Tampa Bay over Rams

Rutter: Packers over Buccaneers

Super Bowl

Adamski: Green Bay over Buffalo

Benz: Tampa Bay over Buffalo

Rutter: Buffalo over Green Bay

Awards

MVP

Adamski: Josh Allen, Bills

Benz: Tom Brady, Buccaneers

Rutter: Josh Allen, Bills

Offensive player of the year

Adamski: Josh Allen, Bills

Benz: Josh Allen, Bills

Rutter: Justin Herbert, Chargers

Defensive player of the year

Adamski: Aaron Donald, Rams

Benz: Aaron Donald, Rams

Rutter: Chase Young, Washington

Offensive rookie of the year

Adamski: Zach Wilson, Jets

Benz: Najee Harris, Steelers

Rutter: Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Defensive rookie of the year

Adamski: Kwity Paye, Colts

Benz: Greg Newsome, Browns

Rutter: Jaycee Horn, Panthers

Comeback player of the year

Adamski: Jameis Winston, Saints

Benz: Dak Prescott, Cowboys

Rutter: Christian McCaffrey, Panthers